Question:
Answer:
Yes, you could be eligible for full funding for a PhD in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, but it depends on specific programs and scholarships. Here's how your profile fits and what you need to know:
✅ Your Strengths:
- Strong academic background: MSc in Statistics and MSc in Public Health are highly relevant.
- Professional degree: BPharm adds healthcare depth, which is an asset in Epidemiology.
- Clear research alignment: You’re well-positioned for interdisciplinary work in biostatistics and epidemiology.
⚠️ Challenges to Consider:
- Age (58 years): Not usually a disqualifier, but some scholarships or immigration policies (in certain countries) may have implicit or explicit age preferences.
- Work experience & research interests: You’ll need to demonstrate how your past experience aligns with your proposed PhD research.
🎓 PhD Funding Options (Fully-Funded):
Here are common routes to fully-funded PhD programs:
1. University-funded PhDs (often via Teaching/Research Assistantships)
- Available in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia.
- Covers tuition + stipend (~\$18,000–\$35,000 per year).
- Requires a strong research proposal and often contacting supervisors.
2. Government/Agency Scholarships
| Scholarship | Covers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DAAD (Germany) | Tuition + living expenses | Age not a strict limit |
| Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (UK) | Full funding | For citizens of developing Commonwealth countries |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate | Full | Joint programs in Europe |
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA) | Full | Competitive, but open |
| Australia Awards | Full | Age limit = 50, but exceptions possible |
| Swedish Institute Scholarships | Full | Limited for PhDs, but possible through university |
3. University-specific scholarships
Many universities offer full funding through internal scholarships or projects. Examples:
- Johns Hopkins (USA)
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) (UK)
- University of Toronto (Canada)
- Karolinska Institutet (Sweden)
- University of Cape Town (Africa)
📋 Entry Requirements (Typical):
- Academic: MSc in relevant field (you have this!)
- Research proposal (important for Europe, UK)
- English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL) if applicable
- Letters of recommendation
- CV
- Publications or research experience (optional but helpful)
🧾 What May Not Be Sponsored:
Even in "fully funded" PhDs, some costs may not be covered, such as:
- Visa fees
- Airfare (sometimes included, but not always)
- Settling-in allowance (only in some scholarships)
- Family/dependent support (usually not covered)
✅ Next Steps:
- Identify programs: Based on your interests (e.g., cancer epidemiology, infectious diseases).
- Shortlist 5–10 universities.
- Check supervisor interests and funding options.
- Prepare documents: CV, SOP, proposal, etc.
- Apply for both admission and funding together or separately, depending on the system.
If you'd like, I can help you shortlist fully funded PhD programs in Biostatistics/Epidemiology that accept international students from Nigeria, possibly without age restrictions. Would you prefer programs in USA, UK, Canada, Europe, or elsewhere?
I am 58 years Nigerian with Msc statistics, Msc public health and Bpharm Pharmacy. Can I be eligible for full funding for PHD Biostatistics and Epidemiology?